Noah sat on the edge of his bed, the Ajax scout's business card balanced between his fingers like it weighed a hundred pounds. The name on it carried prestige: Ajax Amsterdam—a place that had molded midfield legends for decades. For most players, this was an answered prayer. For Noah, it felt like a door into a storm he wasn't sure he could weather.
He ran a hand down his face, exhaling through clenched teeth. Everything felt right here. He had built friendships, chemistry, and a sense of belonging he hadn't had in years. Playing next to Riku's fierce intelligence and Leo's raw energy had made football something he looked forward to every morning. Now he was being asked to give all that up and leap into the unknown.
A knock sounded, followed by the creak of the door. Leo came in first, smiling as always, with Riku leaning against the doorway. "So," Leo said brightly, "have you packed your bags for Amsterdam yet?"
Noah looked up, lips pressing into a thin line. "I'm not going."
The words dropped like stones in water.
Leo froze mid-step. "You're joking, right?"
"I can't do it," Noah muttered, eyes dropping back to the card. "I'm not ready. And even if I was, I don't want to leave. Not when everything's finally… good here. You guys, the team—this is home."
Riku pushed off the doorframe, stepping forward, his face unreadable. "You're scared."
Noah glared. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, I do," Riku shot back. "You were scared when you first came here. Scared to take risks, scared to mess up, scared to step outside your little comfort bubble. But when you started actually playing—those progressive passes you were too afraid to try before—you changed everything for us. You think this is any different?"
Noah didn't answer. He couldn't.
Leo stepped in closer, his voice softer now. "You think we want you to leave? Of course not. But staying just because it's safe? That's not you growing, Noah. That's you hiding."
Noah clenched his fists. "You don't get it… I finally feel like I belong somewhere. I don't want to throw that away."
Riku and Leo exchanged a glance, and then Leo sighed. "Then we should tell you something. Riku got an offer from a Bundesliga academy. And me? La Masia. I haven't said yes yet, but… we're all facing the same thing, Noah. It's not just you."
The room went quiet except for the hum of the ceiling light.
Noah looked between them, his voice small. "You… you're leaving too?"
"Maybe," Riku said, folding his arms. "That's football. People move. Teams change. But we don't stop because it's scary."
Leo grinned faintly. "If we all stay because it feels good here, we'll end up regretting it. And honestly? I want to face you one day as a rival on the pitch, not just a teammate who stayed safe."
Noah's throat tightened. He wanted to say something, to argue, but deep down he knew they were right. He just didn't want to admit it.
That night, Noah took the train home. He hadn't been back in weeks, and the familiar streets brought an ache he hadn't expected. His parents' house smelled of coffee and fresh bread when he walked in, his mother wrapping him in a hug the second he stepped through the door.
"Noah Carter," she said with a wide smile, holding his face in her hands. "Ajax? That's incredible! We're so proud of you."
He shook his head. "I'm not taking it, Mom."
Her hands froze, her smile fading. "What? Why?"
His father stepped in from the kitchen, drying his hands on a towel. "What's this about, son?"
Noah dropped onto the couch, head in his hands. "I don't want to leave. Things are finally good where I am. I've got friends, a team that trusts me. If I leave, I'll lose that. And what if I fail? What if I'm not good enough?"
His mother sat next to him, rubbing his back gently. "Oh, sweetheart… you've always been like this. Even as a kid, you hated trying new things unless you were absolutely sure you wouldn't fail. But you know what I see when I look at you now? A boy who left home once already to chase football—and look what you found. Friends. A team. A place that believed in you. You weren't sure then either, were you?"
Noah shook his head slowly. "No. I wasn't."
His father sat opposite them, elbows on his knees, voice calm but firm. "Son, comfort's a beautiful thing, but it's also dangerous. It makes you stop reaching, stop growing. If your friends matter—and they do—they'll still be your friends even if you're thousands of miles away. And if they're leaving too, doesn't that tell you something?"
Noah looked up, eyes wide. "You know about them?"
His father smiled faintly. "Your mom showed me the news. Riku and Leo—good lads. But they're going to move on, Noah. And if you stay because it's easy? You're going to watch them pass you by."
Noah's voice cracked. "I don't want to lose them."
"You won't," his mom said softly, taking his hand. "Friends don't disappear because of distance. And even if they did… would you rather lose them or lose the chance to become who you're supposed to be?"
Her words hit harder than he expected, and his chest tightened.
The next day, Coach Harper called him into his office. "You're turning Ajax down?"
"I don't want to leave the team," Noah muttered. "I finally feel like I belong. And with Riku and Leo leaving, it feels like I'd be giving up everything."
Harper's eyes softened, but his voice stayed firm. "You think football doesn't hurt? You think every great player didn't leave something behind? This is how it works, Noah. Your friends are moving forward—and if you stand still, you'll regret it."
That evening, Noah stood in the empty training hall with Riku and Leo. They didn't say anything at first, just stared at the field they had shared countless hours on. Finally, Riku smirked. "So… all three of us are leaving, huh?"
Leo laughed lightly. "Guess so. Which means next time we meet, no mercy."
Noah swallowed hard, looking between them. "I… I don't want to lose this. Us."
Riku shrugged. "You won't. But don't expect me to go easy on you when we meet."
Leo grinned, bumping Noah's shoulder. "We're your friends, man. That doesn't change. Take the offer. Go grow. We'll all be doing the same."
Later that night, Noah sat at his old desk at home, staring at the Ajax card under the soft glow of his lamp. His parents' words, his friends' faith, Harper's conviction—they all collided in his head. His hand trembled as he picked up his phone and dialed the number.
"This is Noah Carter," he said when Jeroen answered. His voice trembled but carried weight. "I'm ready to talk about your offer."